Interlock support



Dec. 1, 1936.

A. F. FOEHRENBACH ET AL I NTERLOCK SUPPORT Filed Dec. 2?, 1934 Jmaentors ARTHUR E IEOEHREA/BAC'H FAA/50 M f? HOUP I TM Gflorneg v Patented Dec. 1, 1936 2,062,645 INTERLOGK SUPPORT Arthur F. Foehrenbach and Ransom F. Shoup, Canton, Ohio, assignors of one-half to Berger Manufacturing Company, Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio, and one-half to Shoup Voting Machine Corporation, Union City, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 29, 1934, Serial No. 759,731

4 Claims. (01. 235--54) This invention relates to voting machines and strap interlock assembly therefor.

The object of the present invention is to provide a supporting structure for the pull strap interlock frame which will permit the entry of a large number of pull straps within a localized portion thereof without impairing the operation of the remaining straps in the assembly. More specifically the invention contemplates a support for the interlock frame which is adapted for vertioalreciprocation to effect the disposition of the pull straps in substantially parallel relation when a group or large number of contiguous voting l'evers are'concurrently adjusted in a single voting cycle.

The improvement embodying the present invention is illustrated as coordinated with a machine of the character disclosed in an application by Samuel R. Shoup et al., filed July 25, 1929, Serial No. 380,839, although the device is adapted for use upon machines of other types.

An example of one of the conditions under which a plurality of pull straps areconcurrently adjusted is in a ballot where an elective choice is required for a group of candidates as assemblymen elected at large, when the names of forty candidates are shown on the ballot with instructions to vote for but eight of such candidates. When the pull straps are adjusted to voted position in a ballot of this type the headed portions of. the straps are drawn in a common vertical plane thus absorbing the predetermined clearance between the floating interlock blocks until thev eighth strap is entered. Since the headed portion of the pull straps is substantially twice the thickness of the body thereof the straps under certain voting choice selections may be positioned divergently or extend radially from their respec-- tive points of anchorage into the interlock. This condition is aggravated'in'the end portions of the frame member wherethe roller clearancefor the floating block of the interlock can be obtained only from the central portion in-the frame.

In the structureembodied herein the interlock frame is mounted to float oryieldingly reciprocate vertically which movement minimizes the strains imposed upon the pull straps drawn through the greatest angle of divergence.

In the drawing wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated- Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view through a fragmentary portion of a voting machine interlock illustrating the frame and the supporting concurrent actuation of the pull straps.

structure therefor constituting the present invention.

Figure 2 is an elevational view of. the mechanism shown in Figure 1 and illustrating a plurality of pull straps in their unvoted position and also a group of ten contiguous pull straps with eight of the straps actuated in voted adjustment.

Figure 3' is an elevational view of the supporting member for the pull strap interlock frame.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the disposition of a plurality of pull straps when repositioned by the compensative movement of the floating interlock carrier frame.

As illustrated in Figure 1 the voting machine frame member I0 is formed with a pair of elongated apertures l I which receive the anchor studs l2 for supporting the interlock frame I3. The frame l3 or interlock housing as illustrated is formed with parallel guideways adjacent the forward open end thereof in which the wedge blocks or rollers M are mounted. The entire interlock assembly is suspended from the upper portion of the machine by a tension spring l3a which normally supports the weight thereof and permits the interlock to float vertically in either direction when a number of pull straps are actuated.

Rollers. M are restrained from vertical movement within their guideways by pins l 5 demountably supported in transverse apertures in the frame 13. The rollers intermediate the pins l5 are mounted to float vertically and suitable clearance is allowed within the group to permit the entry of one of the enlarged end portions I 6 of a single pull strap l'l therebetween.

When the ballot is arranged for a choice of a number of candidates under a particular office a suitable number of the pins l5 are drawn to permit the entry of the enlarged heads I 6 of the prerequisite number of pull straps. When the ballot requires the elective choice of a large number of candidates under a particular oifice a corresponding number of pins l5 are removed from the housing thus providing suitable clearance for Under these conditions the pull straps which are confined vertically between the adiacent voting key shafts l8 and I9 in the voting shaft assembly siliently supported upon a carriage adapted for vertical reciprocative movement within a guideway 2! formed in a channel rail 22 which is mounted uponthe frame member ID. The carriage .20 comprises a block 23 having flanged rollers 24 mounted upon reduced end portions thereof which are retained within the guideways 2|.

, in spaced relation with the frame member I0,

thus facilitating the longitudinal adjustment thereof, and providing lateral adjustment of the frame l3 to compensate for any variation in the length of the pull straps II. A tie rod 28 is threaded into the blocks 23 to prevent cramping or tipping of the carriage within the guideway 21 during the reciprocative movement of the interlock frame.

In operation, when a large number of contiguous pull straps are contemporaneously adjusted as illustrated in the actuated group of pull straps, see Figure 2, wherein the lower pull straps diverge at a more acute angle than those of the upper group, the carriage l3 will move upwardly being carried by the carriage 20 until the strain upon the pull straps I1 is equalized and the inter-' lock straps have attained the position diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 4.

Although the foregoing description is necessarily of a detailed character, in order that the invention may be completely set forth, it is to be understood that the specific terminology is not intended to be restrictive or confining, and that various rearrangements of parts and modifications of structural detail may be resorted to without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as. herein claimed.

We claim:

1. In a voting machine embodying a pull strap interlock having a frame with locking blocks therein, a supporting structure therefor comprising a channel having a guideway therein, a stud mounted in said frame, a carriage in said guideway connected to said stud, a spring mounted upon said stud intermediate said frame and said carriage, a nut upon the free end of said stud, said carriage having anti-friction rollers thereon engageable with said guideway whereby said frame may be reciprocated vertically relative to said channel.

2. In a voting machine embodying a pull strap interlock having a frame with looking blocks therein, a supporting structure therefor comprising a channel having vertical slots in the flanged portions thereof and communicating with transverse notches extended through the marginal edges of said flanges, a stud mounted in said frame, a bar mounted upon said stud and disposed intermediate the flanges in said channel, rollers mounted upon the ends of said bar and engageable with said vertical slot, a compression spring mounted on said'stud intermediate said frame and said bar and a screw threaded nut upon the free end of said stud for laterally adjusting said frame.

3. In a voting machine having a pull strap interlock therein comprising a frame for retaining interlock blocks, a supporting structure for said frame comprising a guide member, a vertically reciprocable carriage therein, a post mounted in said frame and connected with said carriage and means for changing the effective length of the post to effect lateral adjustment of the frame with relation to the carriage.

4. In a voting machine embodying a pull strap interlock having a frame with looking blocks therein, a supporting structure therefor comprising a channel having a guideway therein, a stud mounted in said frame, a carriage in said guideway connected to said stud, means for preventing rotation of said carriage upon said stud. a spring mounted upon said stud intermediate said frame and said carriage, a nut upon the free end of said stud, said carriage having anti-- friction rollers thereon engageable' with said guideway whereby said frame may be reciprocated vertically relative to said channel.

ARTHUR F. RANSOM I". SHOUP. 

